Erik Ronning

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Erik Ronning

John W. Beyer Head Coach of Men's Soccer; Instructor in Physical Education

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NCAA Tournament Appearances Under Ronning: 2007, 2008, 2011, 2016, 2017 (Sweet 16), 2018
Patriot League Tournament Championships Under Ronning: 2007, 2008, 2011, 2016, 2017, 2018
Patriot League Regular-Season Championships Under Ronning: 2008, 2010, 2015
United Soccer Coaches Northeast Regional Staff of the Year: 2017
Patriot League Coach of the Year: 2010, 2015
Howard Hartman Award for Colgate Athletics Coach of the Year: 2008, 2017

 
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Championship success is a regular occurrence in the Colgate Men’s Soccer program under head coach Erik Ronning.
 
Ronning holds The John W. Beyer Endowed Coaching Chair, named for John Beyer, who coached the Colgate men’s team from 1966-79.
 
Ronning guided the Raiders to their third consecutive Patriot League title in 2018. In a season where Colgate rocketed into the top 25 and was nationally ranked as high as No. 13, Ronning's team compiled a 13-5-5 record to tie the program record for most wins in a season. Colgate ran through the Patriot League Tournament, culminating with a 1-0 victory over Army to become the first Patriot League team to win three straight tournament titles.
 
Colgate in 2018 advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season, where the Raiders stunned No. 22 New Hampshire and advanced to the second round. Colgate finished the season ranked in the top 25 in shutouts (eighth), goals-against average (16th), save percentage (18th), and shutout percentage (19th).

Ronning led Colgate to its most successful season yet in 2017, and was awarded Northeast Regional Staff of the Year honors by the United Soccer Coaches association for his efforts. The 2017 Raiders made a run to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament and claimed their second-straight and seventh-overall Patriot League Championship. After beginning the season 5-10-1 overall and 2-4-1 in league play, Colgate rattled off a seven-game win streak to advance all the way to the program's first-ever Sweet 16.
 
Ronning has led Colgate to four straight 10-plus win seasons for the first time in program history (2015: 10-7-2, 2016: 13-7-2, 2017: 12-11-1, 2018: 13-5-5). The Raiders have won three Patriot League Tournament championships and one regular-season title during that time.
 
Ronning has mentored two MLS SuperDraft picks in the last two years. 2016 Patriot League Tournament MVP Ethan Kutler ‘17 who was drafted as the No. 39 overall pick of the MLS SuperDraft by the New York Red Bulls in January 2017, becoming the highest draft pick in Colgate men’s soccer history. 2017 Patriot League Tournament MVP Jared Stroud ’18 followed suit as he was drafted as the No. 83 overall pick of the 2018 draft by the New York Red Bulls.

Ronning captured his fourth Patriot League Tournament Championship in 2016 as the Raiders put together yet another record year. The league title marked Colgate’s sixth-ever Patriot League Championship and sixth NCAA Tournament berth. Colgate finished the 2016 season with a 13-7-2 overall record to tie a program record for wins in a season. He led Colgate to its third Patriot League regular season title in 2015 with a program-record seven conference victories (7-2-0).

The Raiders under Ronning have qualified for the Patriot League tournament in 12 of his 14 seasons. Their Patriot League record in that time stands at 58-33-19 (.613), with an overall mark of 128-104-50 (.543). Ronning earned his 100th career win on Oct. 22, 2016 with a 1-0 victory over Navy.
 
Ronning worked his coaching magic right from the start of his Colgate tenure. He guided his debut 2005 squad to the program’s first Patriot League tournament appearance in six years. In Season 2, Colgate began with a nine-game unbeaten streak that included six shutouts. Ronning’s Raiders were one of the final three unbeaten teams in the country and the last team in the nation to allow a goal.
 
The squad finished in the top 12 in three NCAA defensive statistical categories. Ronning helped put Colgate men’s soccer on the map as the squad appeared in the national rankings and earned a mention on ESPN.com. His players were honored by the NSCAA, the Patriot League and multiple soccer news outlets.
 
In 2007, Ronning and the Raiders captured the Patriot League postseason title for the program’s first crown in 10 years and first NCAA tournament appearance in 41 years. In 2008, the Raiders swept the Patriot League regular season and tournament titles.
 
Colgate in those two seasons combined for a 9-2-3 (.750) Patriot League mark and 21-12-8 (.610) overall record. Eric Anton ’08 and Dan Belke ’08 were named the 2007 Patriot League Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively and Daniel Kerley ’09 became the program’s first ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American. For 2008, David Cappuccio ‘09 was named the Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year and Kerley honored with his second ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American selection.
 
The 2009 season was highlighted by the drafting of Chris Ross '10 by Chivas USA in the fourth round of the MLS SuperDraft and the selection of Alex Weekes by the Pittsburgh Riverhounds of the USL second division after Weekes took part in the USL Showcase.

In 2010, Ronning earned Patriot League Coach of the Year honors after guiding Colgate to a 5-0-2 conference mark and first place in the regular season standings. The Raiders were ranked in the NSCAA Mid-Atlantic Region poll all season, reaching the No. 1 spot for two consecutive weeks and earning the No. 24 spot nationally. Seven Raiders were named to the all-league teams and Chris Miller was tabbed Goalkeeper of the Year.

Ronning then led the 2011 team to his third Patriot League tournament title and NCAA appearance with an 11-5-6 overall record. After narrowly missing out on a regular-season crown, the team was able to defeat host and No. 1 seed American to secure the title.
 
Five players earned All-Patriot League accolades that year, including Steven Miller as Offensive Player of the Year and Jimmy McLaughlin as Rookie of the Year. McLaughlin signed with the Philadelphia Union at the end of the season while Miller was invited to attend the InfoSport Pro Soccer Combine.
 
A former Raider himself, Ronning was a four-year starter and team captain in 1996. He was named All-Patriot League First Team and team MVP his senior season.
 
After graduation, Ronning worked as Colgate’s assistant coach from 1997-2001, during which time he was the primary recruiting coordinator. His recruiting efforts included five All-New York region selections, one Patriot League Rookie of the Year, and 10 All-Patriot League selections. The 1998 team earned a national ranking while the 1997 squad was both the Patriot League regular season and tournament champions and appeared in an NCAA play-in game.
 
In 2001, Ronning was hired as the Northwestern men’s soccer assistant coach. In his four years with the Wildcats, Ronning moved up in the coaching ranks, becoming an associate coach under two-time NSCAA Regional Coach of the Year Tim Lenahan. He was an essential part of Northwestern’s success in putting them on the radar in the national picture.
 
The Wildcats in 2004 earned the program’s first top-25 national ranking with a 15-6-2 record. The squad set school records for most wins in a season, most conference victories, highest regular season finish in the Big Ten and reached the championship game of the Big Ten tournament. The Wildcats made their first NCAA tournament appearance and were the only first-year team to advance to the second round of the tournament.
 
With responsibilities including field coaching, player development, opponent scouting and game preparation, as well as recruitment of prospective student-athletes, Ronning was recognized by College Soccer News as one of the top assistant coaches in the country in both 2002 and 2004.
 
Outside of collegiate soccer, Ronning was the head coach of the Sockers FC Chicago, a highly competitive elite boys soccer club for two years. He has also been a member of the USYSA Region II Olympic Development Program staff and a scout for the Adidas Elite Soccer Program (ESP). Ronning coached the New York State West Olympic Development under-17, under-15 and under-14 teams from 1999-2001 as well. He holds an NSCAA Premier diploma as well as a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) ‘A’ coaching license.

Ronning resides in Hamilton with his wife, Amber, and sons, Teddy and Ethan.
 

 

"The passion, love for Colgate and energy Erik exudes is simply contagious. His enthusiasm for his student-athletes, this program and Colgate are what makes him a great coach and a special person." -- Victoria M. Chun, Director of Athletics.
 

  • An Influential Person in My Career: Mike Doherty, former Head Soccer Coach at Colgate; and Tim Lenahan, current Head Soccer Coach at Northwestern. Both have molded my professional philosophies, albeit in different ways. Each has had a unique, profound and positive impact on me professionally and personally.
  • An Idea or Invention I Wish I Had Thought of: It is an idea in the works, but writing a book helping parents and high school student manage their way through the college recruiting process in the proper way. 
  • What I Like About My Job: Building relationships with families, prospective student-athletes, players and alumni. That is what this profession is all about. 
  • What I Like About Competing: Seeing the smile on our players' faces after accomplishing something great. 
  • What I Would Like to Change: I would not change anything. Every experience I have had has led me to where I am today personally and professionally. The greatest honors of my life are being a husband, being a dad to two unbelievable boys, and having the opportunity to lead the men's soccer program at my alma mater. 
  • What I Like That Would Surprise Those Who Know Me: The Bachelor TV show and Disney movies.
  • What I Like About Myself: My passion for what is important in life, and acceptance and respect I have for people regardless of their past. 

 

  • Heroes: My wife, Amber. She makes me a better person. And my grandmother, who kept our family together through thick and thin, and always lived life to the fullest.
  • Possession: Framed Colgate Shirt. Always reminds me of my incredible experience at Colgate, and the opportunities afforded to me through soccer.
  • Memento: Picture of my wife and me on our wedding day. Always have it with me. Reminds me of what is really important in life: family.
  • Magazines (Hardcopy or Online): Sports Illustrated. I am a sports junkie. 
  • Gadget: iPhone and iPad.
  • App: Bleacher Report "Team Stream."
  • Music Type, Singer or Group: The Beatles, Jack Johnson.
  • Books: "Good to Great" by Jim Collins.
  • Food: Pizza and chicken wings.
  • Movies: Anchor Man, Love Actually.
  • Quote: "Tough times never last; tough people do." – John "Spider Man" Salley.